Moments In A Box: The Gorge
The Gorge (J.Doran)
Phish’s two-night stand at The Gorge has garnished lavish praise for its other-worldly improv- and rightfully so. Representing the peak of Phish’s summer, each evening carried its own vibe and its own colossal jams. In discussion of the two nights in Washington, there has been an obvious focus on the most mind-numbing improv, but less attention has been paid to some of the pieces that fit in between. Here are three musical moments that took place over the two nights that have crystallized in my memory, but haven’t been widely noted.
***
“Slave to the Traffic Light” 8.7 E
8.7 "Slave" (G.Lucas)
There is something so magical about a “Slave” encore, regardless of its context. But paint the Columbia River Gorge in the background, and place it at the end of a deeply enchanting show, and you’ve got the recipe for a peak Phish experience. Following a sublime final sequence of “Bathtub Gin > Harry Hood,” this encore felt congruent to the wide-open and delicate musical vibe of the show. Seldom are “Hood” and “Slave” ever combined, but on this night, there was no other way to end the night. Pure. Soulful. Majesty.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/phish2009-08-07d3t04.mp3]***
“Tweezer” 8.8 I
The Gorge 8.8 (W.Rogell)
While this “Tweezer” wasn’t a straight throwdown like several others this summer, its intricate playing coupled with its sunset placement made this an indelible memory of the weekend. Favoring a less-dancy rhythmic path, Trey and Fish were locked in a picking & drum pattern that carried the jam, while Mike and Page filled in the spaces therein. Trey and Fish continued to layer their phrases, creating a quasi-staccato feel to the jam. Trey finally breaks the cohesion with some slower licks that push Fish into a groove, and at this point, the band began meticulously building the piece with unique phrasings that carried a more tradional “Tweezer” sound. With dusk upon The Gorge, nothing could have been better.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/ph2009-08-08d1t04-Tweezer.mp3]***
“Makisupa Policeman” 8.8 II
"Makisupa" 8.8 (E.Battuello)
Following one of the most outrageous jams of the summer in “Rock and Roll,” the band segued into the
“cow-reggae” favorite, “Makisupa.” An ideal bass-led passage of relaxation, things got Phishy towards the end of the song. During the section of improv, Trey and Mike looked at each other and had an idea. Slowly switching instruments, Mike took the lead on the ‘Doc. Anyone who has seen Mike play guitar knows he’s got mad skills, and when he took over, his creative lines have the music a more authentic island vibe. Trey looked tiny behind the bass as he held down the bottom end with his trademark goofy smile. Following one of the best jams of the year, it was time for a little fun- and this time, the music didn’t pay the price.
***
“The Wedge” 8.8 II
The Gorge (G.Lucas)
Slipped into the second set rather randomly, this version of “The Wedge” seemed more lively and energetic than other versions. While the band didn’t necessarily do anything crazy, they just really ripped a juicy rendition of the summertime favorite- smack dab in the middle of the second set. And it worked great. The Gorge can even effect composed pieces, and here is some evidence.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/ph2009-08-08d3t02-The_Wedge.mp3]
=====
Jam of the Day:
“Bathtub Gin” 11.9.95 II
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/phish1995-11-09d2t04.mp3]Here’s a preview of today’s download- some vintage ’95 improv.
=====
DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:
11.9.1995 Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA < Torrent
11.9.1995 Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA < Megaupload
The Fox - Atlanta, GA
This was the first show after Halloween and a week-long break amidst Fall ’95’s 54-show marathon. Beginning a legendary three-night run at The Fabulous Fox in Atlanta, this show kicked off the second half of fall which would culminate in December in one of the most revered months in Phish history.
I: Tweezer Reprise, The Divided Sky, Prince Caspian, Punch You in the Eye, Simple, Reba, Tela, Sample in a Jar
II: Theme From the Bottom, Julius, Lizards, Bathtub Gin > TMWSIY > Avenu Malkenu > TMWSIY, Life on Mars?, Hello My Baby, The Squirming Coil
E: Loving Cup
Source: AKG C1000 (hypercardiod) > DAT @ 16/48 (Taper – J.T. Lucchesi)
=====
THANK YOU CONTRIBUTORS!:
The modest influx in donations over August is greatly appreciated! Any and all contributions help keep this moving forward! The new Phish Thoughts Audio Archive is coming soon with organized, unlimited downloads!
@ Robear
that’s reaujazz at comcast dot net
sorry, my typing gets rough as the hours move on into the night.
just treid that with google- not true at all. not in san francisco at least
Rare and Unreleased 1982-2000
The Nancy Tracks:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/ubjfibbnwjn
Bivouac Jaun:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/0mtmhcdxwam
1982 Space Antelope:
Space Antelope: December 7 1982 Watertown, CT: Lifespace, Watchtower,
Franklins Tower, GDTRFB, Hemispheres, Wild Child, Fluff’s Travels,
Walk on the Wild Side
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2P686AFZ
Early and Rare Material 83-85:
Early and Rare Material 83-85: Jam, Slave, Antelope, Hydrogen, Hurricane
http://www.mediafire.com/file/gufdj3jmmjz
1985 Green Dolphin Street Demo:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?tyidoychzqo
1987 Ernest Anastasio Demo:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/uwanbtnyxim
1987 Promo Tape:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?z0qnyjrye5t
1987 The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/xzdnzx22tw2
Pre-1990 Fishman on John Paluska’s Answering Machine:
Fishman’s Frankenstein
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=6TSS7V1N
1990 Wendell Studios:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/ylzn1xuzkdj
http://www.mediafire.com/file/czmjmdzzfwb
1990 Buried Alive:
Abominable Snowman (Buried Alive) Home from the Holidays, Burlington, VT 12-1990
http://www.mediafire.com/file/yx0gm2mxoie
1993 Fishman’s Geodome:
Fishman’s Geodome: May 15, 1993
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V6AWXPDV
1993 Trey Guitar Class
Trey Guitar Class July 1 1993
http://www.sendspace.com/file/kcmxgh
1993 Trey
Guitar Class 2
Trey Guitar Class July 5, 1993: Caravan, Bewitched, Magilla, One Way
Out, Why Don’t We Do It In the Road, Rock Me Baby, Shaky Ground, Jump
Monk, Unknown
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YTVMYUIP
1994 Purple Dragon Studios:
Purple Dragon Studios, 4-26-94 Atlanta GA
http://www.mediafire.com/file/ow1xntcztjd
1995 Pork Tornado at Club Toast, VT
Pork Tornado July 24, 1995
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OCSAI7AP
1995 Left Nuts:
http://www.mediafire.com/?hmyzczjowmz
1996 Clifford Ball Soundcheck:
http://www.mediafire.com/?mnz2qwduv1j
1996 Clifford Ball Radio:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8JFW0OH1
1997 Great Went Radio:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8JFW0OH1
1997 Free Single European Release:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/goqtnzy0zxw
1997 We Like Page’s New Shirt
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7FCNOBPG
Billy Breathes Sessions:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/yl2huoj0psw
Modern Rock Live Interview:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?ytzzzzmtyuz
Farmhouse Japanese Import:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/vxvbaiqhwcm
1998 Ghost sessions/Bearsville Studio Sessions:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YTYJZVUK
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=EOLR0O6D
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4IINWL9W
1998 KBCO Studios:
KBCO Studios: Driver, Wading In The Velvet Sea, Possum, Roggae
http://www.mediafire.com/?3o4t5ndkhgh
1998 Lemonwheel Soundcheck:
http://www.mediafire.com/?l4vmmqmhdmy
1998 Lemonwheel Radio:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WQ76I45N
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PJWB7FV8
1999 Trey & Company:
The Virgin Jam
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=DNZW2FLM
1999 Trey Tibet House Benefit:
Trey Tibet House Benefit: Spring Waterfall, Brian and Robert, Dirt,
Billy Breathes
http://www.sendspace.com/file/gjc26b
1999 Big Cypress Radio:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=G9YVFZM3
2000 Trey Tibet House Benefit:
Trey Tibet House Benefit: Farmhouse,
Inlaw Josie Wales, The House Where Nobody Lives
http://www.sendspace.com/file/krvn2f
2000 KFOG Studios:
KFOG Studios Berkeley, CA: First Tube, Bug, Get Back on the Train,
Sand, Heavy Things, Piper, The Inlaw Josie Wales, Dirt, Farmhouse
http://www.mediafire.com/?zznjndzzgzy
2000 Sonic Studios:
Sonic Studios: First Tube, Farmhouse, Twist, Heavy Things, Back On The
Train, Piper, Inlaw Josie Wales, Bug, Gotta Jibboo
http://www.mediafire.com/file/wcty7zvvgmx
2000 Austin City Limits:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=U43JIMJY
2000 Japan Soundcheck Compilation:
Japan Souncheck Compilation: 6/13 ginseng
Sullivan, cross roads, jam, Fish Jam. 6/14 Live and Let Die, Windora
Bug, Bass Check. 6/15 Heavy Things, Uncle Pen, Jam, Windora Bug. 6/16
Zepp Osaka Jam, Twist.
http://www.mediafire.com/?a4nnvjjyn4c
Rare and Unreleased 2001-2009
2001 Vida Blue December 31:
http://www.mediafire.com/?o1e21nfkzdz
2002 Victor Disc:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/5jyymnnf39n
http://www.mediafire.com/file/nzgctfci9ld
2002 Round Room:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/tcdwdmj2dyx
http://www.mediafire.com/file/b9jcyzmnvuc
2002 Round Room Outtakes:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/xfvhw3ucc2d
2002 Vida Blue:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/czajho50322
http://www.mediafire.com/file/b9jcyzmnvuc
2002 Trey Jammy’s Acceptance:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/94vc8c
2003 IT Summer Sampler:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=O33HQ3QM
2003 IT Soundcheck:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=B3PH8SR7
2003 IT Radio:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MPFD9LJN
2003 Flotsam Five:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PGO0BR2C
2003 Mike and Leo Mountain Stage Radio:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/86mhv2
Undermind Sessions:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/mwii22zzf0k
Undermind Outtake ‘Tiny’:
http://www.mediafire.com/?zydzjk2dtrj
2004 Summer Sampler:
What I Did on My Summer Vacation
http://www.mediafire.com/?kygljtxzzin
2004 Coventry Soundcheck:
http://www.megaupload.com/?f=IBVJDXHM
2004 Mike Says No Coventry Disaster:
http://www.mediafire.com/?iy4mudzkwyy
2004 Coventry Radio:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PFJ691QD
2005 Mike’s Jammy Acceptance Speech:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/s2jxqw
2005 Divided Sky at Utica:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/3aaqxd
2005 Serial Pod Christmas Jam:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/cx33p1
2005 Trey Tibet House Benefit:
Trey Tibet House Benefit: Bar 17, Love is Freedom, Flock of Words
http://www.sendspace.com/file/4qhs5i
2006 Trey Radio Interview:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/k02pad
2006 Trey Day 19 – With Tom Marshall:
Trey Day 19: Slave to the Traffic, Light (original – White Tape), Run
Like an Antelope (original – White Tape), Kneuyarta (original
Icculus), I Am Hydrogen (original), Log (original Divided Sky), Just
For This Moment In Time (Tom Marshall), Adam & Eve (from ‘Man From
Nantucket’ recording session)
http://www.mediafire.com/?0ozme0evmm0
2006 Treyday 20 – With Tom Marshall:
Trey Day 20: NICU
(original), Silent in the Morning (original, with The Horse intro),
The Wedge (original), NICU (original), Silent in the Morning
(original, with The Horse intro), The Wedge (original), Skip the
Goodbyes (Amfibian), Trey & Tom (in studio) – Inexorably, Trey & Tom-
Walls of the Cave (original), Trey & Tom (Mathilda) – My Swollen Gland
http://www.mediafire.com/?5d2ztfykmtx
2006 Treyday 21 – With Tom Marshall:
Trey Day 21: Trey & Tom- Waste (original from Caymen Islands), Trey &
Tom – Teaching a Stone to Speak (from ‘Man From Nantucket’ recording
session), Trey & Tom – Reach, Trey & Tom – No Regrets
Trey & Tom – Wading in the Velvet Sea (original), Trey & Tom – Twist
(original), Trey & Tom – Limb by Limb (original), Limb by Limb, The
Birdwatcher (Phish’s very last recorded song in 2.0)
http://www.mediafire.com/?8jttegjimdx
2006 Trey Day with his Daughters
Trey Day with his Daughters: Eliza Anastasio (in studio) – Goodbye
Head, Trey Anastasio – Goodbye Head, Trey Interviews Daughters, Eliza
& Isabella Anastasio (Hot Peppers)(in studio) – Grandparents Song, Bob
Marley – Soul Shakedown Party, Trey & daughters, Stevie Wonder –
Golden Lady, Trey & daughters, Phish – Limb by Limb, Trey Anastasio
Band – Black Dog LIV, Eliza & Isabella Anastasio (in studio) – Pigs,
Pigs, Pigs, Eliza & Isabella Anastasio (in studio) – Pokemon Song
http://www.mediafire.com/?8wy11jltpav
2007 Page McConnell World Cafe Live:
http://www.mediafire.com/?zm1kodjbdge
2007 Page
McConnell
http://www.mediafire.com/?ymnnmnmyn5l
Mike’s Fountain Jam:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/iqpmj2
Mike and Leo play Twist:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/fjjmvf
Mike Talks about the Bass:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/wxp8xo
Reimdon’s Mike Compilation Volume 1:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JJYE0Z0Y
2008 Andelman’s Yardsale:
Green Sparrow Demo’s and Outtakes
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KUI0C60T
Cyril Ferguson –
Original Ya Mar
http://www.mediafire.com/?mtzuutzxtyb
Holy crap!
killer links thank you mr. miner
Wow, what a Phishy Grab bag. Thanks Miner!
on your “slave” recording from the Gorge, notice the sexy girl saying sorry at the beginning..
I can’t believe that all those links are shot thanks to the FED’s. No more delicious tunes for my ears. Government is ridiculous. 🙁